Data breach of unknown entity exposes private data of 80 million U.S. households
Security researchers have discovered an unprotected database that left the personal information of about 80 million U.S. households exposed. The database contained unencrypted data that included information about addresses, full names, income, gender, and dates of birth.
The dead will outnumber the living on Facebook within 50 years
A point will come within the next five decades where the number of memorial accounts on Facebook will outnumber those belonging to living individuals. So said the Oxford Internet Institute, which studied the demographics of current (living) Facebook users and the role of Facebook Tributes pages.
Microsoft’s Windows Core OS will reportedly be a no-show at May’s Build event
PC fans expecting to glimpse Microsoft's vision of a hardware and software future for Windows may have to wait a bit longer. It's been reported that Microsoft's Surface Phone, also known as Project Andromeda, and the new Windows Core OS won't be ready in time for the annual Build conference in May.
Leak: Dell XPS 17 and experimental dual-screen device both could launch in 2020
Dell may be bringing new members to its premium XPS product family next year. According to a leaked road map, Dell plans on reviving its now-discontinued XPS 17 with a new Intel processor and discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics. The most exciting addition, however, may be a dual-screen device code-named Maximus.
Massdrop rebrands itself as Drop, launches slate of new products
Massdrop wants to have a slightly more memorable name, and has rebranded itself to simply "Drop." Not only that, but the company also launched a series of new products, including new headphones, and a new mechanical keyboard, which offers RGB lighting and a sleek design.
Apple is recalling faulty plug adapters over risk of electric shock
Apple is recalling certain three-prong AC wall plug adapters shipped with Mac and some iOS devices between 2003 and 2010, and also sold as part of the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit. The company said that in rare cases it could break and, as a consequence, create a risk of electric shock if touched.
May’s Windows 10 update requires twice as much disk space as previous versions
While you're waiting for the next big update of Windows 10 to arrive in May, you might want to start cleaning out some disk space. According to a Microsoft advisory, the new version of Windows 10, known as version 1903, will require 32 GB or more of space to be installed.
Harvard’s laser radio transmission method lays groundwork for faster Wi-Fi
Harvard researchers have come up with a new method for transmitting radio frequencies wirelessly. This new method may lay the groundwork for faster Wi-Fi in the future. The laser radio method uses terahertz frequencies which can move data much faster than current wireless technology.
Intel doubles down on 10nm in 2019, pledges to never have shortages again
Intel CEO Bob Swan has made a solemn pledge that Intel will no longer hold back its potential customers due to stock shortages of its mainstream CPUs. Intel will ramp up 14nm production and continue to improve 10nm yield as it launches the first line of Ice lake mobile products before the end of the year.
George Clooney and Microsoft’s TrialWatch hopes to put a spotlight on injustice
Microsoft and The Clooney Foundation for Justice unveiled the TrialWatch app Thursday during an event at Columbia University — a new tool in CFJ’s ongoing effort to shine a light on injustice in courts around the globe.
Intel’s CPU shortage is no longer affecting Microsoft’s sales
Microsoft is no longer worried about Intel’s CPU shortage affecting Windows sales. Microsoft’s Windows sales are surviving the shortage of Intel’s 14nm CPUs just fine as manufacturers pivot to using other processors like AMD. And Intel may face another shortage this year.
Corsair’s Ironclaw, Glaive gaming mice are tuned for performance and comfort
Corsair gave its Glaive and Ironclaw line of gaming mouse a big update, adding more accurate tracking, durable buttons, and more ergonomic features to the designs. The Ironclaw also adds wireless capabilities. Surface calibration and RGB lighting round out the features.
Intel’s 10nm desktop dreams may be dead — new road map pushes them beyond 2022
A leaked roadmap for Intel's future CPU generations suggests that the chip giant may not be able to launch a competitive, high-end 10nm desktop CPU until beyond 2022, with only a handful of low-power and mobile 10nm chips set to debut in the next few years at all. The rest will be its now-classic 14nm process.
Amal and George Clooney want to change the world. Can Microsoft help?
Microsoft and The Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) unveiled the AI-powered TrialWatch app Thursday morning, a new tool in CFJ’s ongoing TrialWatch effort to shine a light on injustice in courts around the globe – which too often are simply barbaric.
USB drive issue blocks some PCs from receiving Windows 10 May 2019 update
Microsoft blocked some PCs from receiving the May 2019 Windows 10 update due to a USB drive error. The error can cause PCs with USB drives or SD cards attached to have incorrectly assigned letters to their internal and external drives. A future servicing update is expected to resolve the error.
Leaked memo: If your MacBook keyboard dies, Apple will fix or replace in one day
A leaked internal Memo at Apple has given some hope to MacBook owners with dodgy keyboards. Apple has now decreed that its Genius Bar employees prioritize keyboard repairs and replacements and even mandate that they be completed within one business day. It even shipped extra parts to all stores to help.
Amazon drops deals on Razer, Netgear, and Western Digital PC accessories
Amazon is offering a wide variety of deep discounts on PC accessories from Razer, Netgear, and Western Digital for one day only. We’ve highlighted a few of their best discounts. You can grab routers, gaming mice, and external SSD hard drives at some of their lowest prices with Amazon’s deals.
Dell’s XPS 15 steps up its game with next-gen Intel, Nvidia chips
Dell has refreshed its gaming laptop line to include Intel's latest 9th-Gen mobile processor and Nvidia's GTX 16-Series graphics. Models include the G5 and G7 as well as the Alienware 17m and 15m laptops, but the star of the show is the redesigned XPS 15 Ultrabook which can double as a gaming laptop.
Acer gives Predator, Nitro gaming notebooks CPU and GPU upgrades
Acer announced that some of its recently launched gaming laptops will benefit from some silicon updates. In addition to shipping with Nvidia's GTX 1650 or GTX 1660 Ti graphics, the Predator Helios, Nitro 7, and Nitro 5 laptops will also get a processor boost to Intel's ninth-generation Core i7-9750H CPU.
Microsoft reverses decision and extends lifeline to MS Paint for Windows 10
Users of MS Paint may want to do some celebrating, as Microsoft extended a huge lifeline to the app. For now, Paint will live on as pre-installed software on Windows 10, reversing Microsoft's announcement from two years ago that Paint will be deprecated in favor of the new Paint 3D software.
Nvidia’s new GTX 1660 Ti and 1650 graphics cards for laptops start at $799
Nvidia announced the GTX 1660 Ti and GTX 1650, two new mobile graphics cards to flesh out the Turing lineup for laptops. These GPUs don't have the ray tracing capabilities of the RTX 20-series, but still provide the advances of the Turing architecture for more affordable prices.
Asus launches a fleet of ROG gaming laptops with 240Hz screens and 9th-gen CPUs
Today, Asus launched updates to just about every gaming laptop line they have, ranging from the high-end Zephyrus to the budget-level TUF Gaming. Across the board, these new laptops have 9th-gen Intel processors, up to 240Hz refresh rate screens, and solid performance value at every level.
Lenovo Legion, IdeaPad gaming laptops sport 9th-gen CPUs and 16-series graphics
Lenovo's new line up of Legion and IdeaPad gaming laptops now come with the option of Intel ninth-generation CPUs, and a choice of Nvidia RTX 2000-series and GTX 1600-series graphics chips for high-powered gaming. Each also uses a new cooling system for quieter operation and greater overall performance.
Intel’s new Core i9 processors bring 8-core power to laptops
Intel announced a new line of ninth-gen mobile processors that bring eight-core Core i9 processors to gaming laptops and high-powered "musclebooks" for content creators. In addition, the company has announced a fleshed out slate of new desktops CPUs that bring the rest of the lineup up to date.
The Razer Blade’s new 4K OLED gaming laptop starts at a whopping $3,299
Razer has announced a bevy of new gaming laptops, including two with advanced display technologies. One has an OLED 4K screen, the other offers a 240Hz refresh rate for a fast, smooth gaming experience. Razer has rearranged its Base Model configurations, now offering a cheaper way to get a 144Hz display.
AMD will launch anniversary edition Radeon VII and 2700X to celebrate 50th year
AMD is set to release two anniversary edition pieces of gaming hardware on April 29. The Radeon VII graphics card and Ryzen 2700X will come in special edition packaging and the GPU will even have a red shroud to celebrate this five decade milestone for the company. But will performance improve?
Check out this video of a functional PC that’s encased in pasta
A YouTuber built a new chassis for an old Asus Transformer tablet out of uncooked pasta, hot glue, and the Asus tablet’s hardware, to create a PC that resembled lasagna. Check out his video of his pasta PC transformation and to see if the PC still works with its new pasta-based chassis.
Microsoft deal takes up to $400 off select Surface Book 2 laptops
Microsoft's latest Surface Book 2 is now on sale with a deep $400 discount through the Microsoft Store. The sale applies to select 13.5- and 15-inch configuration of Microsoft's convertible laptop. After the discount, the price starts at $1,149, with a fully configured version going for $3,099.
Online passwords: Research confirms millions of people are using 123456
A recent study by the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) that looked at public databases of breached accounts confirms that for many people, simple passwords are still a thing, with 23.2 million accounts globally using “123456” -- the most common string on the list.
Dell slashes prices of XPS 13 and Alienware 17 laptops in latest promo
Dell is running a promotion that will score you big savings off of its popular notebooks, including the latest XPS 13 and Alienware 17. Whether you're a stylish PC user or a gamer, you can now take up to $860 off the Alienware 17 or $430 off of the XPS ultraportable. Only select configurations are discounted.
The iPhone’s Screen Time and Siri Shortcuts could land on Macs this year
The Mac may draw more inspiration from the iPhone this year. Apple is rumored to bring Siri Shortcuts and Screen Time, features that debuted on iOS 12, to MacOS this year. These new MacOS features are expected to debut at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference on June 3.
AMD’s 2020 Ryzen CPUs could have a big boost in power efficiency
AMD's next, next-generation CPUs, the Ryzn 4000 series expected to release in 2020, will be based on an iteration of the upcoming Zen 2 architecture, currently known as Zen 3. That 7nm Plus design will be created using a new lithography process which we're told could lead to solid gains in efficiency and power.
The number pad on HP’s Chromebook 15 makes spreadsheet work a breeze
Though HP is promoting the Chromebook 15 as the largest member of its Chromebook family thanks to the device's 15.6-inch display, the unique feature of this laptop is its dedicated number pad, a rarity in the Chrome OS world. This makes the Chromebook 15 an ideal choice for those working in spreadsheets.
AMD Ryzen CPU prices get slashed ahead of Ryzen 3000 release
You can save big on AMD Ryzen CPUs if you take advantage of the new flash sale on first and second-generation chips. Although some deals are better than others, you can save as much as $100 on some super-power CPUs, with chips aimed at productivity and gaming all part of the sale.